§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the outstanding issues relating to the compensation payments to the men wrongly convicted of 337W the Birmingham pub bombings have been resolved; when his officials last met representatives of the men to discuss compensation; what interim payments have been made to date to them; and what factors underlie the length of time taken to finalise the compensation. [33597]
§ Mr. MichaelFinal assessments of the amount of compensation payable were made some time ago by the independent assessor; in March 1995 in the cases of five of the men, and in the sixth case in July 1996. These have not been accepted. Significant interim payments have been made in all six cases, but it is not the practice to disclose the amount of such payments in individual cases. The assessor has considered further representations on behalf of all six men: the outcome of his consideration of the most recent representations in the cases of five of the men was communicated to their representatives last August and we await their response. The assessor has just completed his consideration of representations on behalf of the sixth man, and my officials will write to his representatives shortly. My officials have not met representatives of the six men to discuss compensation; nor would such a meeting be appropriate as the assessment of the amount of compensation payable is solely a matter for the independent assessor.